Azalea plant named ‘Lazamoropi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘Lazamoropi’, characterized by its medium purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit, and strong multi-seasonal reblooming, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Rhododendron hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Lazamoropi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant botanically known as Rhododendron hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Lazamoropi’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Independence, La. during the spring of 1996. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Azalea cultivars with attractive flower color with multi-seasonal blooming and that perform well in the garden.

The new Azalea cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary breeding selection coded VFXOHI-1, not patented, characterized by its medium fuchsia-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown however the female was outdoors and in close proximity to numerous proprietary hybrids that had cold hardiness, compact growth habit, and multi-seasonal blooming traits. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during the fall of 2010 in a controlled environment in Independence, La.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since the fall of 2010 in Independence, La. and later in Loxley, Ala. and Irvington, Ala. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Lazamoropi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant:

-   -   1. Medium purple-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage;     -   3. Moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit; and     -   4. Strong multi-seasonal reblooming.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having reduced growth vigor, and a different growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Azalea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Autumn Royalty ‘Conlec’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,580. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Conlec’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is a         shade of purple different from plants of ‘Conlec’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of         ‘Conlec’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a leaf color different from         plants of ‘Conlec’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Lazamoropi’. The plants were grown in 2-gallon containers for 9 months outdoors in Irvington, Ala. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Lazamoropi’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Lazamoropi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in March 2015 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from semi-hardwood stem cuttings from stock plants. Rooted plants, liners, were transplanted into 2-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant and grown for approximately 9 months outside in Irvington, Ala. under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Average winter temperatures ranged from 63° F. to 42° F. (17° C. to 5° C.) and average summer temperatures ranged from 91° F. to 72° F. (33° C. to 22° C.). Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid cultivar Lazamoropi. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary breeding selection coded             VFXOHI-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—Approximately 25 to 30 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—Approximately 60             to 70 days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             becoming light brown with age.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 months from a rooted             cutting to finish in a 1-gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Perennial, evergreen             flowering subshrub; moderately vigorous, upright-mounded             growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level: Approximately 47.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 51.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Two main trunks, freely branching, pinching             improves lateral branching. Quantity of primary lateral             branches per plant: Approximately 8. Quantity of secondary             lateral branches: Approximately 3 to 8 per primary branch.         -   Primary lateral branches.—Strength: Very strong, rigid.             Length: Approximately 23.0 cm. Diameter at midpoint:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture: Woody, rough. Color: 200A to             200B.         -   Secondary lateral branches.—Strength: Very strong, flexible.             Length: Approximately 26.0 cm. Diameter at midpoint:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent, hairs             appressed. Color of young branches: 145A and N144A often             tinted with 187C. Color of mature branches: N199B to N199C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Leaf retention: Very good winter leaf             retention. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem, blades extend downward             with age. Shape: Elliptic to obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Acute, mucronulate. Base: Broadly attenuate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate, finely reticulate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent, hairs appressed, leathery. Color of upper surface             of young foliage: 144A with venation of 146D or             indistinguishable from leaf surface. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: Closest to 144B with venation of 146D or             indistinguishable from leaf surface. Color of upper surface             of mature foliage: N137A tinted with 187A and with venation             of 146C or indistinguishable from leaf surface. Color of             lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to 146B tinted with             187A and with venation of 146C or indistinguishable from             leaf surface.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent, hairs appressed. Color:             146C.         -   Flowering habit.—‘Lazamoropi’ flowers in spring from early             March to mid-April and then remontant flowering during             spring and autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Flowers are             durable and long-lasting; depending on the temperature             flowers can last approximately one week on the plant. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, open funnel-shaped,             non-persistent. Arrangement: Terminal clusters of 3 to 12             flowers and buds in whorls, approximately 17 clusters per             plant. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 71A.         -   Corolla.—Length: Approximately 7.5 cm. Width: Approximately             8.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube that extends 2.5             cm from the base to the free portions between the upper and             lateral petals and extends 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm from the base to             the free portions of the lower petals, unfused portions             imbricate. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Velvety. Margin:             Entire, undulate. Apex: Obtuse. Length of free portion:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm to 3.2 cm.             Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, tube portion densely             pubescent with very short hairs. Texture of lower surface:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             70A to 70B with speckles of 60A on upper and lateral petals,             main color fades through 70B to 70D during senescence. Color             of lower surface when first and fully open: Slightly lighter             than 70A with midveins of upper petals tinted 58B, main             color fades through 70B to lighter than 70D during             senescence.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Densely             pubescent, hairs appressed. Color of upper (inner) surface:             Slightly darker than 144A. Color of lower (outer) surface:             144B.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent, hairs appressed. Color:             145B to 145C often tinted with 185A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 to 6,             petaloid. Stamen length: Approximately 3.7 cm with 1 to 2             irregularly shaped petaloids attached to base and up to 5.0             mm in length. Filament length: Approximately 3.6 cm.             Filament texture: Lower portion densely pubescent with very             short colorless glands. Filament color: 70A. Anther shape:             Bilobed, dorsifixed. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Anther color: 70A darkens to 83A with age. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity:             1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 5.2 cm. Stigma             shape: Round, capitate. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Stigma color: N167B. Style length: Approximately 4.8 cm.             Style color: 58A to 58B. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Ovary texture: Densely pubescent with long white hairs.             Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Garden performance and temperature tolerance: Plants of the new     Azalea have been observed to be very tolerant to rain, wind and are     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 9. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Azalea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘Lazamoropi’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 